appointment

Bob Blackburn has been named the new track superintendent at Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack and Hotel. His previous stints include 15 years at Remington Park, 10 years overseeing track maintenance at an Ocala, Florida Thoroughbred Farm and track superintendent at Bandera Downs and Manor Downs in Texas. "I am blessed and excited for this new opportunity in Iowa working at Prairie Meadows," Blackburn said. "Working at racetracks has always been a love of mine, which started in Texas growing up around my dad's Quarter Horses to my experiences either at...

Andy Howard has been appointed Yearling Manager at Lane's End Farm. He will be taking over Peter Sheehan's role--Sheehan is now the stallion manager. "Andy has been a key part of our success with yearlings and will be an important asset on our team moving forward," said Bill Farish of Lane's End. "We are extremely confident in his ability to manage such a fundamental part of our operation." Howard worked as an assistant in the Versailles, Kentucky farm's yearling division since 2013. Notable yearlings he has helped raise are GI...

Jockey James Reveley has joined digital sale platform ThoroughBid as the company's National Hunt Consignment Agent in France. Based in France for the past 15 years, the 2016 French Champion National Hunt Jockey has won 11 Grade 1 races and has won the G1 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris three times (2016-18). Ross Alberto, Co-founder of ThoroughBid, said, "We're thrilled to have James Reveley working with us. His experience will prove invaluable in sourcing top-quality horses from across the Channel, and as we head into our second sale on Sunday, 24th,...

EQUIX, a Lexington, Ky.-based bloodstock agency, has appointed Sarah Thompson as an Equine Analyst. Thompson brings a diverse background in all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry. She most recently served as Sales Coordinator and Client Relations for South Point Sales Agency, and worked for other top consignors such as Gainesway, Bluewater, and Hidden Brook. Her dozen years of hands-on experience include yearlings and sales prep, horses in training with Jonathan Sheppard and at Bridlewood's training division, and mares and foals as assistant manager at Paul's Mill and Timber Town farms...

Patrick Diamond has joined The Castlebridge Consignment in a new role as Sales Executive based in Newmarket. Immersed in the breeding industry with his father Peter Diamond-who served as Stud Groom to Lady Tavistock at the historic Bloomsbury Stud--Diamond apprenticed for Weatherbys, Paul & Sarah Thorman of Trickledown Stud and Arrowfield Stud in Australia before graduating from the Irish National Stud Course in 2014. Over the last six years, he served in the role of Nominations & Bloodstock Management at The Irish National Stud, where he was responsible for the...

Matt Vance has been named executive vice president of racing for Remington Park in Oklahoma City and Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. As executive vice president for both tracks, he will oversee all mutuels/simulcasting, operations, track maintenance and racing operations. "For several years, Matt has overseen racing operations at Remington Park and over the past couple years he has served in an advisory role at Lone Star Park," Skip Seeley, Global Gaming Solutions CEO. "His leadership and commitment to horse racing helped us navigate a very trying time...

Mark Richards, who has fulfilled a variety of roles with the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the past 20 years, has been appointed to the newly created role of British Agent for Goffs, the sales company announced on Monday. Richards, most recently HKJC Executive Manager of the International Sale, begins on May 1. Originally a National Hunt jockey, Richards has been in the racing industry for 45 years and has contributed to a number of media outlets including the Racing Post, Daily Telegraph, Racing Channel, Sky and TVN. His primary...

Recent Godolphin Flying Start graduate Amelie Lemercier has been appointed to the role of business development at Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot. Previously a marketing assistant for His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs, Lemercier has also worked for the Wertheimer brothers, Coolmore, Primus, as well as Graham Motion and Elite Sales in America and Newgate and Star Thoroughbreds Down Under. She will be heavily involved in stallion nominations, sales and marketing at Bouquetot. "We're delighted to welcome Amelie as her dynamism, her skills and her wealth of recent international experiences...